“Swim” by Caribou – Album Review and Tour Dates

Switching sounds from album-to-album, first as Manitoba then post lawsuit as Caribou, Dan Snaith has for the most part been on the mark, with every album driven by catchy hooks and stellar production. The short answer to the question is that Caribou’s latest record “Swim” is good. Very good. What is noticeably disappointing, though, is that Snaith trades in the psyche hooks and heavy beats of 2007’s “Andorra” for a more, dare I say it, disco sound that isn’t quite as appealing. At its best, “Swim,” which is inspired by water’s inherent quality of flowing in constant movements, sounds like a more produced and synthetic – meaning less live arrangements – version of Phoenix.

At its worst, the record sounds like you are listening to KCRW’s Chocolate City, and every song just sort of morphs into the next with no apparent ending. It’s hard to say that this record is a complete miss, because it’s not. The production is still phenomenal and, if played on huge speakers, “Swim” will definitely keep you out on the dance floor, particularly if you happen to have taken any little pills. Overall, however, it kind of just leaves you pining for the lysergic-laced sounds of its predecessor.